It's really a wave of unrest. While the epidemic situation in COVID-19 has not been completely eliminated, another monkeypox virus has appeared. Monkeypox virus has been reported in 1 1 countries, with more than 100 patients and dozens of cases to be diagnosed. The death rate of monkeypox virus is relatively low, most patients can be cured, and the spread is small, and the epidemic situation may be relatively small. Monkeypox virus is somewhat similar to smallpox, but it is not a serious infectious disease. At present, it is not a threat to us, so there is no need to panic. Although there are no patients in China at present, according to expert analysis, monkey beans may become one of the viruses that threaten our health in the future.

? What virus is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a viral disease of human beings and animals. The symptoms of human beings are similar to those seen in smallpox patients in the past. However, since smallpox was eliminated in the world in 1980, smallpox no longer exists, and monkeypox is still distributed in some parts of Africa. Monkeypox occurs in monkeys in the rainforests of central and western Africa. It can also infect other animals and occasionally humans. The clinical manifestations are similar to smallpox, but the condition is mild. This disease is caused by monkeypox virus, which belongs to a virus group including smallpox virus and vaccinia virus used in smallpox vaccine, but it needs to be differentiated from smallpox and chickenpox. This virus can be transmitted from animals to people through direct and close contact, and also from person to person. Infection routes mainly include blood and body fluids. However, monkeypox is far less contagious than smallpox virus.

Are there any treatments or vaccines at present?

There is no specific therapy at present. The principle of treatment is to isolate patients and prevent skin lesions and secondary infections. But it can prevent, restrict or prohibit the activities of small mammals and monkeys in Africa, and can effectively slow down the spread of the virus outside Africa. Animals in captivity should not be vaccinated against smallpox. Infected animals should be isolated from other animals and immediately. Animals that may have had contact with infected animals should be quarantined for 30 days and the symptoms of monkeypox should be observed.

In the case of monkeypox epidemic, the most important risk factor of monkeypox virus infection is close contact with other patients. In the absence of specific treatment and vaccine, the only way to reduce human infection is to raise awareness of risk factors and carry out publicity and education to make people know the measures that may be needed to reduce virus exposure.